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NBA: Kevin Durant won't play for U.S. at World Cup

Associated Press
11:03 p.m. EDT August 7, 2014

Minnesota’s Kevin Love drives against Utah’s Jeremy Evans in an April 16 game. Sources say Love will be traded to the Cavaliers for Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett and a first-round pick.(Photo: Ann Heisenfelt AP)

Kevin Durant withdrew Thursday from the U.S. national team for the upcoming World Cup of Basketball, the biggest loss yet for a weakening American squad. The NBA's MVP took part in training camp in Las Vegas last week but then informed team officials he wasn't going to continue.

"Kevin reached out to Coach (Mike Krzyzewski) and myself this afternoon and expressed that he is just physically and mentally drained from the NBA season and his attention to his many responsibilities," USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said. "He tried to give it a go at our recent Las Vegas training camp but felt coming out of camp that he was not prepared to fulfill the commitment he made to the team."

Durant was MVP of the world championship in 2010, leading the U.S. to that title for the first time since 1994. The Thunder star also started on the gold-medal team in the 2012 Olympics. His withdrawal comes after Indiana's Paul George was lost to a broken right leg and follows withdrawals by Kevin Love, Blake Griffin, LaMarcus Aldridge and Kawhi Leonard.

"This was an extremely difficult decision as I take great pride in representing our country," Durant said. "I know that I owe it to my USA Basketball teammates to be totally invested in the experience. After going through training camp with USAB, I realized I could not fulfill my responsibilities to the team from both a time and energy standpoint. I need to take a step back and take some time away, both mentally and physically in order to prepare for the upcoming NBA season. I will be rooting for USAB and look forward to future opportunities with them."

Cavaliers: LeBron James and Kevin Love won Olympic gold medals together. They're about to team up again, this time to try to end Cleveland's 50-year title drought.

Love soon will be on his way from Minnesota to Cleveland as the teams reached a deal in principle to a trade that will send the All-Star forward to the Cavaliers for Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett and a first-round draft pick, two people with knowledge of the deal said Thursday. They requested anonymity as no official agreement can be reached until Aug. 23, when Wiggins, this year's No. 1 draft pick, becomes eligible to be traded.

The deal could expand to include a third team, one of the sources said. The Timberwolves have talked with the Philadelphia 76ers about acquiring forward Thaddeus Young to help fill Love's shoes. The Wolves could use the first-round pick they get from the Cavs to entice the Sixers to part with the 26-year-old Young, the person said.

For now, the deal will unite Love, James and All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving in a new-look "Big 3" in Cleveland and give the city's long-suffering sports fans a realistic chance to celebrate a first title since the Browns won the NFL title in 1964.

James won two titles in Miami with teammates Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. The power trio made the Heat envied and despised by the rest of the league. James, Irving and Love could be equally devastating.

James, 29, is the NBA's best player as he returns home to Ohio. Irving is 22, this year's All-Star game MVP and just starting to scratch his potential. Love, 25, is coming off his best season, averaging 26.1 points, 12.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists. He's the top "stretch 4" — a power forward who can rebound and shoot 3-pointers — in the game but his offensive gifts haven't gotten the Timberwolves into the playoffs in the rugged Western Conference.

The Cavs are giving up Wiggins and Bennett but have promising role players in Dion Waiters, Tristan Thompson, Mike Miller and Anderson Varejao, giving them more than enough talent to challenge anyone in the Eastern Conference.

For the Timberwolves, Love's departure ends one era. But Wiggins could be the start of something special. A prep sensation in Canada before spending one season at Kansas, he's a super-athletic wing player scouts deem NBA-ready from a defensive standpoint. He needs to work on his offense but appears perfect to play alongside point guard Ricky Rubio in a new, more up-tempo Wolves offense.

Bennett, the No. 1 pick in 2013, also has intriguing potential. He struggled last season while recovering from a shoulder injury but looked much improved in the Las Vegas Summer League.

Mavericks: The NBA suspended new Dallas guard Raymond Felton on Thursday for the first four games of the season after his guilty plea in a New York gun case. The former Knick pleaded guilty July 23 to attempted criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a firearm. He was sentenced to 500 hours of community service and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.

Oden: Former No. 1 draft pick Greg Oden was arrested on battery charges Thursday, accused of punching his ex-girlfriend in the face during a fight at his mother's suburban Indianapolis home. The free agent center played for Miami last season. Portland made him the top pick in the 2007 NBA draft.

Pistons: Former NBA star Tim Hardaway was hired as an assistant coach. Detroit also hired Malik Allen as an assistant coach, Jeff Nix as an assistant general manager and Quentin Richardson as director of player development.